| 'Labrador Retriever' is the breed name, but if you're looking at ads and see Labrador/Retriever, it could mean Lab/Golden Retriever mix. Be sure to ask a lot of questions about the dog. Go see the dog in person. Be sure to have the dog meet your daughter before you make a final decision and see how they interact together.
As far as cost goes, if your looking for a pet, try a shelter. Dogs are a lot cheaper than 400 and may either already be spayed/neutered and be utd on shots or may come with vouchers so the animal can be altered and vaccinated later for little or no additional cost.
If for whatever reason, you want a purebred, look at breed specific rescues or breeders in addition to shelters.
Consider the age of the dog. I can't say much about smaller breeds, but large breeds (like Labs) take 2-3 years to fully get out of the 'puppy' stage which can involve a lot of destructive behavior (teething, digging, 'accidents'. rough housing, and more). They need to be taught what behavior is acceptable and what isn't. They may jump up on people, nip at people, scratch, play bite, etc and you have to teach them not to do all of this. It's more work. Some dogs are harder to teach than others. A puppy will have to be potty trained, which takes time and patience. A shelter dog of any age may require re-training after being in a shelter for some time.
Also, Labs sometimes have 'whip' tails. Some are worse than others. When the dog is happy and the tails goes crazy, they can unintentionally whack you repeatedly and it doesn't always feel good. With your daughter, it's something you'll want to consider.
The dogs personality is more important than size, breed, and appearance. Some dogs just don't mix with children. Some dogs are ok with the people that are close to them, but are nervous around strangers. Some dogs think all humans are their best friends.
I've got two Lab mix mutts and a Golden Retriever mutt. They are awesome dogs. Matty loves kids and just about everyone she meets, but is a little cautious of people with gloves and hats, though she has not done more than move away from them. Matty is very active, sometimes knocks even bigger kids down. She gets depressed if life events get in the way of our playing with her. Matty's tail is fluffy and spirals. She doesn't shed much and is not a big drooler. She doesn't mind being left alone for long periods as long as you play fetch or Frisbee when you get back. Matty tolerates cats, but wouldn't be at all sad if there were no cats left in the world. She shows little interest in the caged critters.
Bear is usually carefull not to bump into to people. He's not allowed around small kids. Bear is cautious of strangers and is not good with small children. He doesn't like anyone other than his immediate human family grabbing onto his head or neck. He likes to have something in his mouth almost all the time, usually a the remnants of a stuffed toy. He doesn't fetch or play tug-o-war. He's just happy to just be in the same room as you and he doesn't require as much attention as Matty. He hates to be left alone though. He's got to have another person or dog with him at all time. Bears got a tail that hurts when he wacks you with it. He sheds and drools more than Matty. Bear loves cats and does well around small animals.
Lucy never learned to play with toys and isn't interested in them. She loves everyone and will let little kids pull her tail and ears, lay on top of her, and give her kisses. She just likes attetion. The worst she does is wack kids in the face with her tail, which isn't as whip like as Bear's, but hurts a little. She's good with cats and small animals too, though I'd never trust her with a bird as she hunts the quail outside. She doesn't mind being left alone for long periods of time, and actually enjoys being outside by herself without the other dogs every once in a while.
I think you'd need a dog that's more like my Lucy. Be sure to ask a ton of questions if you get a dog from an individual. Consider:
- personality
- age (personality will change)
- grooming
- size (bigger dogs require more space, food, and there's more dog to groom)
- good with kids
- good with strangers
- activity level
- will a dog fit into your schedule
- health
Ihope that extremely long post has helped some what. I think I babbled some. | 
FAQ 
1st Time Owner - Looking for advice 
